Micro Dragon satellite to enter space in late 2018
Micro Dragon, a satellite made by Vietnamese engineers, is expected to be launched into space in late 2018, according to the Vietnam National Space Centre (VNSC) under the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology.
The satellite development roadmap of Vietnam (Photo: VNSC)
Hanoi (VNA) – Micro Dragon, a satellite made byVietnamese engineers, is expected to be launched into space in late 2018,according to the Vietnam National Space Centre (VNSC) under the Vietnam Academyof Science and Technology.
VNSC Director General Pham Anh Tuan saidJapanese authorised agencies are considering granting a safety licence forMicro Dragon so that it could be launched later this year. After receiving thelicence, it will be put into orbit by the Epsilon rocket, made by IHI Aerospaceof Japan.
Micro Dragon, an earth observation satellite,weighs 50kg and measures 50x50x50cm. It was created by 36 VNSC engineers whostudied space technology in Japan. They began creating the satellite in 2013,and it was tested successfully in 2017.
After going into orbit, it will observe coastalsea areas to assess water quality, locate fisheries resources, and monitorchanges in coastal waters to serve Vietnam’s aquaculture industry. It is alsoset to receive sensory signals from the ground and then transfer data to otherdistant places on earth, while testing new materials like atomic oxygen andantimony tin oxide coating solar cell.
Micro Dragon is the next step in Vietnam’s roadmap to gradually master satellite design and production.
Earlier, VNSC engineers had created Pico Dragon,a 1kg satellite measuring 10x10x11.35cm. It was launched into space in November2013 and has operated successfully.
After Micro Dragon, Vietnam plans to createLOTUSat-1 and LOTUSat-2 satellites, weighing about 600kg and measuring1.5mx1.5mx3m each.-VNA
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The satellite development roadmap of Vietnam (Photo: VNSC) 
